However, ITV's late scheduling of an hour-long Coronation Street in the 7pm slot, which attracted 6.24m (25.3%), would have dented Strictly. Tracy Barlow's pregnancy bombshell in Corrie was seen by a further 484k (1.8%) on +1.

After Strictly on BBC One, Countryfile commanded a strong 6.44m (25.4%) at 7.30pm, then 4.51m (19.8%) watched The Antiques Roadshow, and Andrew Marr's History of the World stumbled on with 2.6m (11.3%) at 9.30pm.

Clark Gregg and Joss Whedon appeared at New York Comic-Con this weekend to confirm some fan-pleasing news…

“There was never going to be a S.H.I.E.L.D. show without Agent Phil Coulson.” And with those words from the mouth of Kevin Feige, hordes of Marvel fans at the New York Comic-Con and around the world breathed a sigh of relief. Agent Coulson would be appearing in Marvel’s S.H.I.E.L.D. (the show’s current title), and Clark Gregg was there to prove it.

The news was announced with some trickery. Ostensibly, Gregg was at the Comic-Con to discuss his role on the animated Ultimate Spider-Man but during the panel, a video was shown of Whedon and Marvel head Kevin Feige discussing Agent Coulson’s role in Marvel’s S.H.I.E.L.D. “He’s headlining the show and always was”, confirmed Whedon.

The Avengers viewers will know that Coulson’s appearance begs more questions than it answers at this stage, but however Whedon and co. are going to play it, let’s rest happy that for however long, in whatever circumstances, Coulson is back where he belongs.

CONFESSIONS OF THE BACKUP DANCER (The CW) - Andrew Leeds and David Lampson (NBC's "Rex Is Not Your Lawyer") will take a new crack at the long-in-the-works drama, which "follows a young filmmaker who is hired to make a documentary about a world famous pop star and her controversial tour." Ilene Chaiken penned the original take in 2009 with Sascha Penn trying again in 2010, both of which are based on Tucker Shaw's novel of the same. Warner Bros. Television-based Alloy Entertainment is behind the hour with Gina Girolamo and Leslie Morgenstein executive producing alongside the duo. It's not clear if director Marcos Siega is still attached to the project. (TVLine.com)

CROWNINSHIELD (NBC, New!) - Oscar-winner William Monahan ("The Departed") and actor Kevin Kline are on track to sell a new drama to the Peacock about "a genius investigator-consultant and confirmed bachelor who winds up rooming with compulsive thief." Universal Television and Scott Free Productions are behind the project, which would presumably star Kline and be executive produced by Monahan, Ridley Scott and David W. Zucker. (Variety.com)

ELECTROPOLIS (The CW, New!) - Ken Olin and J.J. Abrams ("Alias") are set to re-team for a potential drama which "revolves around after-hours Los Angeles and the young people who live their lives while most of the city sleeps." Olin's son Cliff and Justin Feil will pen the script to the project, which the elder Olin conceived alongside the duo and is attached to direct. Olin, Abrams and Bad Robot's Bryan Burk then will executive produce for Warner Bros. Television with writers Olin and Feil serving as co-executive producers, as is Kathy Lingg. (Variety.com)

F--- I'M IN MY TWENTIES (NBC, New!) - Emma Koenig's Tumblr blog-turned-book - which consists of hand-drawn musings about the plight of today's millennials - is being developed as a comedy at the Peacock. Jeff Lowell ("Common Law") will co-write the half-hour alongside Koenig, which will track "a woman's experience as a twentysomething living in the big city." Universal Television-BermanBraun is behind the project, with the company's Gail Berman, Lloyd Braun and Gene Stein also executive producing. (Deadline.com)

THE GREAT ESCAPE (TNT) - The cable channel has passed on a second season of the reality series, in which teams of competitors try to find their way out of seemingly impossible situations for a chance to take home a cash prize. The show's nine-episode freshman run averaged 1.143 million viewers and a 0.5 rating among adults 18-49, making it the least-watched program on the network this year. Ron Howard, Brian Grazer, Bertram van Munster and Elise Doganieri were among the executive producers while NFL Network's Rich Eisen served as host. (TVGuide.com)

THE LAST SHIP (TNT) - The ever-busy character actor Titus Welliver has boarded the drama pilot, in which a global catastrophe nearly obliterates the earth's population, forcing the crew of a naval destroyer to confront the reality of their new existence in a world where they are among the only survivors. He'll play Mike Slattery, "second in command to Captain Tom Chandler (Eric Dane) onboard the USS Nathan James, a fair man who cares deeply for his family." Producer Michael Bay, director Jonathan Mostow and writers Hank Steinberg and Steven Kane are all behind the hour, which is based on the novel by William Brinkley. Michaela McManus, Charles Parnell, Travis Van Winkle, Christina Elmore and Sam Spruell also star. (Deadline.com)

MICHAEL BOLTON'S DAUGHTER IS DESTROYING MY LIFE (ABC, New!) - Grammy-winner Michael Bolton is set to star in a potential comedy at the Alphabet about "a naive young writer who moves to the big city and ends up taking a job heading social media for singer-songwriter Michael Bolton only to have her hands full with Bolton and the wild-child daughter he has recently taken in." Tami Sagher ("30 Rock") is penning the Universal Cable Productions-based half-hour, which is based on an idea by actress Allison Miller ("Go On") and her real-life celebrity encounters when she first came to Hollywood. Tagline Television's Willie Mercer, Ron West, J.B. Roberts and Kelly Kulchak also serving as executive producers with Bolton and Miller receiving co-executive producer and producer credits, respectively. (Deadline.com)PROS & CONS (ABC, New!) - Alexi Hawley ("Castle") has snagged a script order from the Alphabet about "a young FBI agent who discovers the father she never knew is a master thief and his unique insight into crime proves invaluable to her work." Mark Gordon and Nicholas Pepper also serve as executive producers on the project, which is set up at their ABC Studios-based The Mark Gordon Co. (Deadline.com)

#RESISTANCE (CBS, New!) - Daniel Cerone ("The Mentalist") has booked a new drama at the Eye about an unconventional young female detective for the San Francisco Police Department who's fired from the force for going too far only "to be secretly recruited by the Chief of Police to become an undercover officer posing as a vigilante, allowing her to break the law in order to serve justice." Cerone will write and executive produce alongside McG and Peter Johnson for their Warner Bros. Television-based Wonderland Sound and Vision banner. (Deadline.com)

THE ROYALS (ABC, New!) - Screenwriter Matt Lopez ("The Sorcerer's Apprentice") has sold a new drama to the Alphabet about "a young woman who falls for a prince in foreign country and finds herself wrapped up in palace intrigue and a murder mystery." Sony Pictures Television-based Thunder Road is behind the hour, which has a penalty attached. Lopez then will executive produce alongside the company's Basil Iwanyk ("The Town"). (Variety.com)

THE SECRET LIVES OF WIVES (Lifetime) - Callum Blue, Valerie Cruz and newcomer Derek Smith have all been cast in the drama pilot, which explores the unvarnished truth behind the marriages of four different women - Michelle (Kim Raver), Reed (Salli Richardson), Keaton (Amber Clayton) and Jessie (Lauren Bittner), breaking down the creative ways each close friend nurtures, maintains and endures what many see as an impossible convention of modern life. Blue is set as Jessie's husband Dan, "a Lutheran Minister who looks more like a sexy rock star than a pastor"; with Smith as "Keaton's husband of one year, an accountant"; and Cruz as Alyse, "a pretty yet frail girl who's a cancer survivor who claims to have had an affair with Michelle's husband, Wil." Jill Gordon penned the Warner Horizon Television-based hour, which is inspired by the book by Iris Krasnow. (Deadline.com, THR.com)

SEX DIARIES (ABC, New!) - Tom Spezialy ("Chaos") has sold a potential new series to the Alphabet billed as "a sexy and heartfelt dramedy set in New York City that explores the sex lives, loves, and experiences of 10 characters who are interconnected in surprising ways." ABC Studios-based The Mark Gordon Co. is behind the hour, which is inspired by New York Magazine's popular weekly feature. Gordon and Nicholas Pepper also serve as executive producers. (Deadline.com)

THE SIXTH GUN (NBC, New!) - "Lost" alum Carlton Cuse is developing a small screen take on Brian Hurtt and Cullen Bunn's Oni Press comic of the same name, about six pistols of otherworldly power in the Old West, the most dangerous of which falls into the hands of an innocent girl named Becky Montcrief who - alongside shadowy gunfighter Drake Sinclair - must battle vile men thought long dead that have set their sights on retrieving the gun. Said effort was originally eyed as a six-hour mini-series at Syfy. Screenwriter Ryan Condal ("Galahad") will pen the script and executive produce alongside Cuse and Closed on Mondays Entertainment's Eric Gitter and Andy Bourne for Universal Television. (Deadline.com)

UNTITLED JOHN LEGEND PROJECT (FOX, New!) - Grammy-winner John Legend is developing a new single-camera comedy at the network about "a guy in his early 20s who becomes the guardian to his own siblings while having to manage his burgeoning career and social life." Said half-hour, from the 20th Century Fox Television-based Chernin Entertainment, is loosely on Legend's upbringing. Tommy Dewey and Greg Bratman ("Sons of Tucson") are penning the script and will serve as co-executive producers. Get Lifted Film Co.'s Legend, Mike Jackson and Ty Stiklorious then will executive produce alongside Katherine Pope and Peter Chernin. (Deadline.com)

UNTITLED RON WEINER PROJECT/WHITES (NBC, New!) - Ron Weiner ("30 Rock") has sold of pair of comedies to the Peacock. First up: an untitled half-hour about "a contentious work marriage in which two people who are total opposites must manage a team together." 20th Century Fox Television-based Chernin Entertainment is behind said effort with Peter Chernin and Katherine Pope also serving as executive producers. Then there's "Whites," based on the short-lived U.K. comedy "set in the kitchen of a country house hotel, following the trials and tribulations of head chef Roland White and his long suffering sous chef Bib." Universal Television is behind the half-hour with 3 Arts Entertainment's Howard Klein also on board as an executive producer. (Deadline.com)

UNTITLED RYAN TAVLIN PROJECT (FOX, New!) - Screenwriter Ryan Tavlin ("Counting Backwards") is developing a modern-day take on Bonnie and Clyde at the network about "two sexy, young lovers from struggling families in East Texas, who use their respective skill sets to pair up and fight back, one crime at a time." Sony Pictures Television-based One-Two Punch Productions is behind the hour with the company's Maria Grasso and Deborah Spera executive producing alongside Tavlin. (Deadline.com)

THE CHURCH (NBC, New!) - Feature writer Howard Franklin ("The Big Year") has sold a potential drama to the Peacock which "chronicles the struggles of a family who is part of a seemingly innocuous and upstanding organization that they come to realize is a controlling cult." The Universal Television-based Wolf Films is behind the hour with the company's Dick Wolf, Peter Jankowski and Danielle Gelber executive producing alongside Franklin. (Variety.com)

THE CISKO KID (CBS, New!) - Diego Gutierrez ("Without a Trace") is spearheading a new small screen take on O. Henry's iconic Mexican caballero, which has been adapted into numerous film and TV incarnations - most recently in 1994 as a TV movie with Jimmy Smits in the title role and Cheech Marin as his sidekick Pancho. Gutierrez's take will focus Cisco, an Afghanistan veteran who teams with his best friend/fellow Marine, Sam, to defend the city's disenfranchised after his father is murdered. CBS Television Studios is behind the hour with Ventanarosa's Salma Hayek and Jose Tamez as well as Donners' Company's Lauren Shuler Donner and Jack Leslie executive producing alongside Gutierrez. Separately, Gutierrez is also developing "Flesh and Bones" at FX with producers Eli Roth and Eric Newman. (Deadline.com)

CONTINUING FRED (ABC Family) - Mimi Gianopulos ("What to Expect When You're Expecting") has booked the lead role on the comedy pilot, about 20-something Winifred "Fred" Harris, a newly-graduated slacker with an overbearing family who surprisingly finds purpose when she begins to teach at a local elementary school. Bill Daly is behind the multi-camera project, which was picked up last month. (Deadline.com)

FIVEHEAD (ABC, New!) - "America's Next Top Model's" Tyra Banks and Kenya Barris are set to re-team for a new single-camera comedy at the Alphabet which "chronicles the impressionable teenage years of Banks in the halls of her high school and at home, focusing on her family and the long journey that took Banks from awkward teen to one of the world's most recognizable supermodels." ABC Studios is behind the half-hour which Barris will pen off a story conceived alongside Banks with the duo executive producing for Bankable Productions. (Deadline.com)

GRANNY IS MY WINGMAN (CBS, New!) - Kayli Stollak's blog - which documents the 25-year-old New Yorker's experiences with online dating alongside her 76-year-old grandmother - is being eyed as a potential multi-camera comedy at the Eye. Donald Todd ("Hart of Dixie") is on board to co-write the half-hour, which is set up at the Warner Bros. Television-based Jerry Bruckheimer Television, alongside Stollak. Todd, Bruckheimer and Jonathan Littman will executive produce with KristieAnne Reed and Stollak serving as co-executive producer and supervising producer, respectively. (Deadline.com)

LE GRAND (ION) - A deal to import the Jean Reno-led, eight-episode drama, about a tough elite cop who stops at nothing to solve mysterious murder cases in Paris, has become the focus of a $4 million transatlantic breach-of-contract lawsuit. Producer Atlantique Productions has alleged ION Media Networks backed away from a license deal for the series over "creative concerns, such as the 'intelligibility' of Reno's accent." ION has yet to comment on the lawsuit. René Balcer is behind "Le Grand," which was shot in English entirely on location in Paris. (THR.com)

LIFESTYLE LEMONAID (FOX) - Erin Richards ("Breaking In") has been tapped for the lead role on the comedy pilot presentation, based on Nikki Joel's tell-all blog about her marriage to top WME talent agent Brandt Joel. She'll play Nikki in the HBO-turned-FOX project, described as "a life force with a sense of mischief who's sexy, defensive and sometimes argumentative but always protective of her fashionista son." Jordon Nardino penned the half-hour, which is also executive produced by Mark Wahlberg and Steve Levinson as well as the Joels. (Deadline.com)

SECRET LIVES OF HUSBANDS AND WIVES (NBC) - Laura Allen ("Awake") has booked the final principal role on the drama pilot, based on Josie Brown's book about the secrets and lies of three suburban couples exposed in the aftermath of a murder. She'll play Alison Dunn, "a grounded and levelheaded mother and wife who happens to be hiding the darkest secret of all." Martin Henderson co-stars as her husband with Nicole Ari Parker, Jesse L. Martin, Perrey Reeves and James Tupper playing the other couples, the Cookes and the Deavers. Producer Jerry Bruckheimer, director Mark Pellington and writer Sascha Penn are all behind the hour, which comes from Warner Bros. Television. (Deadline.com)

UNDATEABLE (NBC, New!) - Ellen Rakieten and Anne Coyle's book, subtitled "311 Things Guys Do That Guarantee They Won't Be Dating Or Having Sex," is being developed as a multi-camera comedy at the Peacock. Adam Sztykiel ("Due Date") is penning the project, which has a penalty attached and is "described as a bromantic comedy about two very different guys who are bonded by their common inability to attract women." Doozer's Bill Lawrence and Jeff Inglod are also on board to executive produce for Warner Bros. Television. (Deadline.com)

UNTITLED STEVE CONRAD PROJECT (HBO, New!) - Steve Conrad has booked a potential comedy at the pay channel from Mike White's RipCord Productions ("Enlightened"). No details were given about the project, which will be developed under White's recently signed overall deal with HBO. White and David Bernad then will presumably executive produce the untitled half-hour alongside Conrad. (Deadline.com)

WONDERLAND (NBC, New!) - Screenwriter Whit Anderson is developing a new drama at the Peacock billed as a sequel to Lewis Carroll's "Alice in Wonderland" centering on a new character, Clara, "who must wage war against Wonderland's reigning Queen, the woman we once knew as Alice." ABC Studios is behind the hour, with Dare to Pass' Anthony E. Zuiker and Matt Weinberg as well as Brillstein Entertainment Partners' JoAnn Alfano and Margaret Riley also among the executive producers. Anderson previously penned the much-ballyhooed feature reboot of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" in 2010 which didn't move forward. (Deadline.com)

An ambulance was called for X Factor contestant James Arthur after his performance on last night's (October 13) show.

The 24-year-old singer suffered a suspected panic attack and was examined backstage.

Medics decided that Arthur didn't need to be taken to hospital and he instead returned to his hotel. Producers confirmed that doctors are keeping an eye on the singer - who delivered an emotional performance of Mary J Blige's hit 'No More Drama' - and have advised him to take it easy.

"James Arthur became unwell after his performance on the show last night," said a spokesperson for the show.

"An ambulance was called as a precaution but he was not taken to hospital and he will appear on tonight's show. The welfare of contestants is our key priority and we work with them to provide any support that is needed."

Arthur is said to be "in good spirits" after enjoying a "good night's sleep". He admitted that the amount of emotion he invested in his performance is likely to blame for the scare.

"I had an anxiety attack last night, maybe because I gave everything I had to my performance," he said.

"I feel loads better this morning after a good night's sleep and I'm looking forward to tonight's show - there's no way I am missing it."

The 44-year-old contestant became the second act to leave the competition this year after she was placed in the bottom two alongside District3.

Masson sang 'Stay With Me', a hit for Bette Midler and Duffy, in a bid to stay in the show, battling against the boyband's version of '(Everything I Do) I Do It for You'. However, she was eliminated after the judges failed to reach a majority decision and it went to Deadlock.

Turning to the judges after the contestants' performances, presenter Dermot O'Leary asked them who they would like to send home.

Walsh said it was "an amazing sing-off", before voting to save his own act District3 and send Masson home. Tulisa said the acts were "completely different - but both very talented" and also voted to send home Masson. Barlow voted to send home District 3, saving his act Masson.

Scherzinger had the deciding vote, and voted to send District3 home taking the decision to Deadlock. Masson was then eliminated, having received the fewest amount of public votes.

After the news was announced, Barlow said that he was "gutted" and "really disappointed" for his act.

Asked by Xtra Factor presenters Caroline Flack and Olly Murs how she felt about leaving the show, Masson said: "I'm fine. I enjoyed every part of being in the competition", before thanking everyone who picked up the phone and voted for her.

Flack and Murs then asked Barlow about his act's exit, and he said: "Well tonight was an absolute… I couldn't believe it. Melanie's had a great week. I'm just really disappointed for her. I'm so sad to see her go so early. This competition never fails to shock me.

If Rick's "defacing" of a zombie didn't turn your stomach, then hacking off Hershel's leg in the Season 3 premiere of The Walking Dead ensured you will probably never eat while watching an episode of the AMC zombie drama ever again. Yes, we made that exact mistake.

Hershel's (Scott Wilson) impromptu amputation came after the Greene patriarch was bitten by a walker inside the group's new "safe haven" within an overrun and zombie-infested prison. But will severing the leg actually stop the virus from spreading and claiming yet another group member? (In the comics, the procedure had inconsistent results — it did and didn't work -- on different occasions, so chances are 50/50!)

The season premiere saw Rick (Andrew Lincoln) & Co. begin to clear out the prison in order to find a stable home so Lori (Sarah Wayne Callies) wouldn't have to be on the run so far along into her pregnancy. But, of course, the prison wasn't what the group expected. Not only were they attacked at every turn, but there were — wait for it — other survivors there too!

To get the scoop on whether Hershel will cheat death (twice!), TVGuide.com turned to executive producer and comic book creator Robert Kirkman, who also dishes on Andrea's (Laurie Holden) fate, the arrival of the Governor (David Morrissey) and the blink-and-you-missed-it introduction of a certain comic book character. And here's another spoiler warning for safe measure!

By chopping off Hershel's leg, Rick is testing out a theory that was mostly proven wrong in the comics. You guys have talked a lot about deviating from the comics, but how close will you be staying with this story line?Robert Kirkman: There's definitely a lot of really cool stuff in this era of the comic book series that we'll definitely be adapting. There's a lot of cool moments with the Governor that we'll be seeing, and a lot of other cool things here and there, but like the first two seasons, we'll always try to arrive upon these things a little different, just like the big leg chop scene is something that is mostly similar to what happened in the comic book series, although it's a different character. While it did happen in the comics, this is still something shocking and unexpected, so that's always going to be the mood we're always going to be trying to evoke when we do adapt things from the comic.

You guys have toyed with killing off Hershel twice now, both last season and now in the premiere.Kirkman: We love Scott Wilson. He's a really good sport. We love teasing him. I like to joke that we love not killing Hershel, but he's a very important character. It's a dangerous world and I think there's going to be some near-misses with a lot of characters and some deaths with a lot of characters this season. Everybody will get their turn before the end.

This story line reminds me of Morgan (Lennie James)! Is there a chance we'll get to see him soon or are you guys having fun keeping him in your back pocket to one day resurrect him?Kirkman: All I can say about that is that we definitely have not forgotten Morgan, and we'd absolutely love to have Lennie James back into the show as soon as it makes sense for the story. That's all I'll say on the matter.

There are also other survivors in the prison. How will Rick & Co. come into direct conflict with them? And how similar are these prisoners to who we saw in the comics?Kirkman: There are definitely elements of the comics here. Axel (Lew Temple) is actually the guy who says "Holy sh--" at the end of the first episode, and there are definitely some new changes that we've put into the show, as there always are. This is par for the course for The Walking Dead. Rick thought this was a safe place, and finding this perfect place to live. This is something Rick is going to have to deal with. This is a very different Rick than what we've seen in the previous seasons of this series. I think people will be pretty startled with how Rick handles the situation this season.

And this is a very different Rick and Lori than we've seen. It almost seemed like they were going to be OK before he revealed he killed Shane and everyone was affected. Now, it doesn't. Can they ever get back to a point where they're OK?Kirkman: That's definitely something we're going to be dealing with in a big way this season. What happens when your marriage has gotten to a point to where you would naturally separate, but because you're forced to coexist in order to survive, you can't really get away from that person. Is that going to make them realize that they do love each other and being together is more important than anything that happened in the past? Or is it going to continue to drive them further and further apart? These are the things we're going to be dealing with moving forward.

Carl (Chandler Riggs) is definitely a warrior now. How will that get him into trouble this year?Kirkman: We're going to see a very different Carl this season. I don't think he's necessarily going to be in trouble this season. This is a very capable child soldier that can definitely handle himself in a much better way than we saw last season. I love the fact that this episode opens with him kicking a door in and shooting a zombie in the head, when last season he couldn't bring himself to pull the trigger when he was in a similar situation. Those two clear things where we can compare who the character is now to who he was really illustrates how different this guy is and what kind of really cool stories we can tell with him moving forward this season.

How soon will the Governor be coming into conflict with the group?Kirkman: We're definitely going to see him very soon. But it might be in [Episode 3]. He's somebody that is a good leader. He's pulled Woodbury together, but there's a lot bubbling under that surface. He's got a lot to hide and a lot of those secrets will come out over the course of the season. We will learn a lot more about this guy as things progress.

What can you say of Andrea and Michonne's (Danai Gurira) first interaction with the Governor?Kirkman: We'll definitely see quite a bit of Michonne and the Governor clashing this season, so be on the lookout for that. One of the things that we're really playing out form the comic book series is the fact that the Governor is the ultimate politician. There's a big element of that in the comics, but he very quickly plays his hand and removes Rick's, so to speak, so that's something that we will be dealing with a lot more in the show. Andrea is probably more than likely going to get caught up in that web pretty quickly.

Is there a chance people in Rick's group might get envious of life in Woodbury and decide to jump ship?Kirkman: There's definitely a divide for the audience because they are going to be seeing all aspects of different things. They'll get to see the prison in all its glory and Woodbury in all its glory. I think there will be a sense of the audience rooting for different groups and different people within those groups. As for the characters themselves, I don't know that they will ever truly understand exactly what's going on in both places to a point where they could make a decision like that.

How will Daryl (Norman Reedus) change once Merle (Michael Rooker) is back in the picture?Kirkman: That's a source of conflict that we're really excited to play with this year. Daryl has changed and is a very different person, but it's also just as likely that Merle has changed and he's a very different person because it has been quite a long time since we've seen Merle, so we don't know what light he's going to be in when we finally do see him again. That's a question that's up in the air that we'll be dealing with in a big way this season.

The Comic-Con trailer also showed a helicopter, presumably the one Rick saw in the series premiere. What can you tell us about that?Kirkman: Rick definitely saw a helicopter in the premiere episode of the show. It may or may not be the exact same helicopter. I will tease that the helicopter from the comic book series was used as an avenue to introduce Woodbury. It's used in very much the same way in the show, so be on the lookout for that.

Johnny Ball has said that he is "bitterly disappointed" to have left Strictly Come Dancing.

The TV entertainer became the first celebrity to be voted off the BBC show over Richard Arnold on last night's programme (October 14).

Ball said that he was particularly upset, as he never got the chance to show his younger side to the audience.

"I never got to show how youthful I can appear, because I was always in a tails and high collar," he told The Sun.

"The plan was for something lighter next time, and now I will never get the chance. But someone has to go out every week - it is bitterly disappointing for whoever it is."

Ball also lamented his lack of practice time compared to other contestants, after his original partner Aliona Vilani suffered a fractured ankle and was replaced by Iveta Lukosiute.

"I only had an afternoon session and one day with my new partner before the studio rehearsal on the Thursday in the first week. But then to make things even harder, the producer asked if we could change the first 25% of our routine.

"While everyone else had three weeks, we had two hours on the Friday and two hours on the Saturday to learn and rehearse a whole new section."

Speaking about why he was voted out, Ball added: "I was one step out, I don't know where it went, but that's where the mistake was. I think for my age, I did quite well. I'm so disappointed.

"If they called me back I would go tomorrow and whatever I do next, I will have the same energy. I'm fitter than I have been for 20 years because I have a fitness routine I do in the morning, then the dancing."

Strictly Come Dancing continues with a Hollywood-themed show on Saturday, October 20 at 6.30pm on BBC One.

What was going through Sabrina Bryan's mind when she was in the bottom two last week on Dancing with the Stars? Her shocking Season 5 elimination, of course. "Oh my God! I totally thought of it. How could you not?" Bryan tells TVGuide.com. "It was gut-wrenching, I was ready to throw up. I was like, 'This is crazy right now!'" The former Cheetah Girl and her partner Louis van Amstel survived the close call, and now she's tackling the season with renewed purpose. Find out what Bryan has planned for her disco and why this season is all about her fans.

How's the disco going?Sabrina Bryan: It's really fun. I was excited when Kirstie [Alley] picked it for us, but once I started thinking about the costuming, the set and started to do a lot of research on it, I got even more excited. The '70s is one of the best eras.

How '70s is it going to be?Bryan: We're not really doing so much of the Saturday Night Fever. It's more Studio 54 — really edgy and bringing back that glam that was going on in the '70s in Hollywood. ... There are lifts. We went a little conservative last week and kind of got nailed for it, so this week, we're going balls-to-the-wall. We really want to amp it up and do everything we can.

You followed the rules, but Shawn [Johnson] and Derek [Hough] didn't for their quickstep. What do you think about the judges not penalizing them that much for it?Bryan: I think this season is going to be like that. It's going to be the curveballs that they throw at us. When they say they want to see things that have never been done before — I mean, they're on Season 15 so pretty much every ballroom move has been done — that means you've got to up the level and take more risks. Louis and I took some risks technique-wise, but they're looking for the wow factor. Sometimes it takes an "Oh, OK" for you to realize that. Of course, you want good scores, but this season, beyond any other season, is 100 percent about the audience. The votes matter so much more right now because everyone's scores are so close together. There were four couples that were tied for third place. The half-points really make a difference of keeping us very, very close together. You have to keep that in mind and put a performance on for the fans and win them over. Their votes count more than anything right now.

Did you have flashbacks to Season 5 when it was between you and Helio?Bryan: Oh my God! Totally. ... Out of everyone, I know what it feels like to be up there like that. No one else at this point didn't make it to the finals. I'm the only one who hasn't made it that far. It's kind of, like, "Wow!" It did put me right back there. And I was like, "Man, if I get another chance, I'm not gonna hold anything back. I'm gonna go full-out crazy this week." And we are!

How much of a relief was it when Tom [Bergeron] read Helio [Castroneves]'s name?Bryan: I was so not expecting that at all. What was so crazy to me was that Helio won the season I was in, so both of us, Season 5, were right there in the bottom two. I couldn't see him going home. He's so good, he has so many fans, he won the last time — I couldn't even think about it being him going home. It was pretty crazy when Tom said Helio. Plus, everyone at this point has known each other forever. We're all hanging around talking about the Indy 500 and having watched him race. It's sad, especially since he was on my season and I've known him for so long.

Were you surprised you were in the bottom, especially since you were fan-voted back in?Bryan: I think this whole season is unpredictable. I think every week it will be surprising. It's hard for fans. My hairdresser's wife just told me that she was voting [for me] on Facebook and her mom was like, "I absolutely love Helio. Give him at least one vote." My hairdresser said, "I got so mad! I told them, 'See, people are trying to save other people and Sabrina almost went home! That was bad!'" [Laughs]

I think that's part of the problem. Fans could've voted for five people in their different seasons who are in the cast now, so now they have to pick and choose.Bryan: Yeah, exactly. And with the double elimination, it was really hard to not vote as much as you want for your favorite so you could vote for the people you didn't want to go home. The double elimination in the third week was rough! It was definitely nice to get that one over with.

Do you still look at this season as redemption for Season 5?Bryan: Being in the bottom two makes me feel like this is a start of a new journey. Yeah, I was eliminated on Season 5, but I'm really past Season 5 and I'm focused on this season. If there is any kind of redemption, it's for my fans. They've been supporting me since Day 1, and my redemption would be for them more than anything. I have a lot of fight in me. I had to fight to get on this show, I had to fight to earn my spot. What's awesome about this season is that every week is a clean slate. If you think about who's been at the top — Emmitt [Smith] topped Week 1. He went into the middle the second week and stayed there third week. We were in the middle, then we went to the top, then we went to the middle. Melissa [Rycroft] and Kelly [Monaco] were toward the low middle and they hit the top this last week, so each week is a clean slate. It really depends on the dance and your performance. It's so important for the judges to say what they really feel and not just spit something out to be funny or whatever because the viewers at home definitely take that into account. And the audience votes are really what's going to count.

I have to say, I loved that you didn't pick rock 'n' roll for Kirstie after Louis told you that would be a tough one for her.Bryan: That whole thing was crazy! We only had 10 seconds! He told me that rock 'n' roll is really fast and I remember Kirstie saying, "God, I'm going to die with this jive." Kirstie's such a great actress and such a character — she takes a character and lives in it. I thought of the Charleston and I thought of the flapper costume and her, and I felt like that was a dance that was made for her and she'd be so cute. Plus, who wouldn't love Maks [Chmerkovskiy] in a little tank and some overalls and a derby hat? [Laughs] With their last performance, he's obviously going all the way with his looks. And I also only had two choices! I didn't have a lot of options, and I just saw her doing the Charleston to the tee.

Lois and Clark. Felicity and Ben. Sydney and Vaughn. It is a sad fact, but I've been an avid TV "shipper" pretty much since I learned how to wield the remote control. That includes childhood favorites and also my current "adult" mainstays. So as an avid Good Wife viewer from Day One, I have always naturally been Team Will (Josh Charles), or "Willicia" if you will, 100 percent. He's loved Alicia (Julianne Margulies) for 15 years! Her husband cheated on her with a prostitute! That deleted voicemail! And, most importantly, that kiss! The "Willicia" argument seemed pretty cut and dried. But a funny thing happened on the way to Alicia and Will's destined-happily-ever-after — I switched sides. After Sunday's episode, in which a young beautiful campaign worker lied about having had an affair with Peter, I realized that four seasons has turned this Will fan into a surprisingly strong Team Florrick supporter. So what changed? Here's five reasons my vote is for Peter (Chris Noth):

1. Time served: Ok, so maybe technically there is no way for someone to really pay his dues after cheating on his wife with a prostitute, having photos of said affair leak and embarrass his wife in front of the entire country. But Peter has come pretty close. He spent months locked up in orange and then when he was finally let go on house arrest, he didn't argue with Alicia when she banished him to the guest bedroom. Even though she tossed him several mixed signals — like when she slept with him after kissing Will — he was never presumptuous about the status of their very complicated marriage and basically waited patiently until he got those rare green lights.

2. The lone ranger: Sunday's episode, and specifically the false accusations of an affair, raised a very interesting question: What exactly has Peter been up to since getting kicked out by Alicia for sleeping with Kalinda (Archie Panjabi) way back when? While Alicia was fooling around with her boss, was Peter having fun of his own? His entire political career rests on his image as a married man, but Alicia already learned the hard way that Peter knows how to keep secrets. He's never been shown even looking at another woman, let alone dating or sleeping around, but that doesn't necessarily mean he's been a saint. However, until there's evidence that points to the contrary, Peter has been depicted as a man who only has eyes for his wife, and that's an easy man to root for.

3. The better man: Diane (Christine Baranski) said it best (and most tersely) at the end of last season when she asked Will, "Could you please keep your pants zipped?" Unlike Peter, Will has never gone too long without adding to his little black book, whether it be a brief fling (the young reporter in Season 2), an old friend (Emily in Season 1), a bona fide girlfriend (sports journalist Tammy, also in Season 2) or something in between a la Callie Simko (Julianne Nicholson). Because of his dating record, watching the seemingly commitment- and kid-phobic lawyer morph into a lovesick puppy dog was a little jarring and — dare we say it — a little disappointing compared to the more ruthless and risk-taking Will seen in earlier seasons. Will's most shining moments throughout the series have always been when he's going out on a limb or cutting corners in some fashion — which means Will can never be the character fans love and the good man fans want for the good wife at the same time. And we'll take (slightly) sleazy Will over "reformed" Will any day of the week.

4. The way they were: Aside from a nod or two to Alicia and Peter's former glory days as the prom queen and king of Highland Park in the show's early days, The Good Wife has never been big on flashbacks — that is until Alicia's old house went on the market at the end of Season 3. In the end, Peter got the house — thanks, Jackie! — and also earned some major goodwill with fans as the show pulled the curtain back on the Florricks' once-blissfully happy marriage. Sure, the writers also showed the morning before Peter's infamous press conference and other unhappy times, but if these two were that were in love before everything happened, could Alicia and Peter find their way back to that happy place someday now that she's learned to accept his faults? It's not impossible, especially after those -- count 'em -- two kisses Alicia planted on him at the end of Sunday's episode.

5. The kids: When asked, "Why do you stay with your husband?" by reporter Peggy Byrne (Kristin Chenoweth) in the season premiere, Alicia said it was because she wanted to honor her commitment to Peter, but watchful fans know the other big reason: her kids. Over the years, Alicia has never made no secret of her disdain for how her parents handled their divorce during her childhood. And just like Alicia would do anything for her children, Peter has proved he's willing to throw his weight around for their sake as well. First, he had every cop in Chicago searching for Grace (Makenzie Vega) when she went on her top-secret baptism mission, and then he used his political clout to get Zach (Graham Phillips) and Grace into private school, prickly dean be damned. Peter is a natural, and powerful, father figure — a sharp contrast to Will, who proved his ineptitude with kids during his awkward encounter with Zach in Alicia's office. "Keep on keepin' on?" What does that even mean?! Maybe Will can change, and maybe it would/will be different with his own kids, but Alicia has no time to give him a crash course on parenting. This one is a no contest.